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Review by Alan Gillespie
James Robertson’s short story collection ‘Republics of the Mind’ presents an eclectic ragbag of voices that are unexpected, unheralded and unhinged. With a shamelessly Scottish outlook, Robertson’s writing delves into the relationships we have with society, with each...

The Eejit Pit by Jenny Lindsay; The Glassblower Dances by Rachel McCrum; Treasure in the History of Things by Katherine McMahon
Stewed Rhubarbis a small Edinburgh publisher founded by Rachel McCrum and James T Harding which specialises in publishing spoken word artists and in collaborating to create...

Read David Greig’s ‘Victoria Leaving’ here
David Greig has written something cultural
for Vicky Featherstone in finest doggerel
He kinda said it’s an awfie shame
That Vicky’s leaving, goin hame
Cruising tae anither port
In London and the Royal Court
(The wall-less theatre...

Cailean Gallagher wrote a fine article last year in the Scottish Review about Alasdair Gray, socialism and public libraries. I suspect that few readers and not many writers understand how rapidly our libraries are changing, and the threat that these changes bring.
Let’s start with the basics. Our...

‘The Hydrogen Sonata’ by Iain M Banks
Orbit Books £20.00
Reviewed by Ross Walker
It is 24 days until the Gzilt enter the “Sublime”, an alternative parallel universe, to live as immaterial beings forever. However, with preparations well under way, a secret is about to be revealed that could...

Angela McSeveney, Still Bristling, Mariscat Press, £5
Angela McSeveney’s latest pamphlet Still Bristling (2012) covers a lot of ground, from litter-strewn rural roads to exotic tree frogs in toilets, ‘looking cute in a pool of pee.’ The collection has a part humorous, part matter-of-fact...

The Propriety of Weeding, by Colin Will
Red Squirrel Press £6.99
Review by Orla Broderick
There is no introduction to this book, no thoughtful explanation of title or content, no great musing on the matter within. We are invited to simply read it just as it is. To assess it for what we can see or glean.
I...

The Healing of Luther Grove by Barry Gornell
Freight Books £8.99
Review by Alan Gillespie
There are four deaths in the first sentence of Barry Gornell’s debut novel, The Healing of Luther Grove. Granted they turn out to be shot rabbits, but the omens are unsettling and indicative of what is...

Robyn Marsack
Edinburgh, Polygon, 2012
96 pp. £9.99 (hardback)
ISBN: 9781846972485
“I think the health of our civilization, the depth of our awareness about the underpinnings of our culture and our concern for the future can all be tested by how well we support our libraries.”...

In the introduction to These Islands We Sing editor Kevin MacNeil lays out the brief for this anthology:
— a remit wide enough to bring in writing from any Scottish island, but distinct enough not to include Highland or other mainland work.
And this brings in a useful reminder right from the start....